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Pier 39 Sea Lion Herd Swells To Record High
NBC Bay Area ^ | Wed, Oct 14, 2009 | LORI PREUITT

Posted on 10/15/2009 2:22:52 PM PDT by nickcarraway

A small band of sea lions that made their home on Pier 39 in weeks after Loma Prieta has ballooned to a record number in the past week.

Perhaps it's a wildlife reunion to celebrate the quake's 20th anniversary next month.

Regardless of the reason, the people who do the counting say they have never counted this high before. Last Friday, there were 1,585 sea lions hanging out at the pier.

The experts at the Marine Mammal Center say they don't know what is behind the increase, but that they are hunting for clues.

Record Number of Sea Lions Flock to Pier 39

Weirdest Creatures of the World

Zoo Babies The influx of animals is being called an anomaly. "Usually during this time of the year, we typically have only a few smaller sea lions on the docks, as the larger males head south to mate," Pier 39 Harbor Master Sheila Chandor said. In response, officials will add more docks to accommodate the herd. The record number of adult sea lions follows a record number of yearlings earlier this summer. At the time that was blamed on an ocean upwelling pattern that shifted the animal's source of food. "Now, the older sea lions that are out there are seeking food wherever they can find it," Marine Mammal Center director Jeff Boehm said, "and the current run of anchovies has a lot of them hanging out in some areas in greater numbers than we’ve grown used to."

Experts say they have responded to nearly 1,500 animals in need of rescue so far this year. That's nearly triple the average.

And this might not be the end of the sea lion saga of 2009. If El Nino conditions continue at the equator, the Marine Mammal workers say they are sure to be for a buy rescue season come this winter.


TOPICS: Local News; Outdoors; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: sanfrancisco; sealions

1 posted on 10/15/2009 2:22:53 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

The herd should be culled. Wound and release is in order. Let the sharks do the environmentally friendly clean up.


2 posted on 10/15/2009 2:30:22 PM PDT by libertyhoundusnr
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To: martin_fierro

Maybe the are there to protest Obama? Any Freepers out there Sea Lions?


3 posted on 10/15/2009 2:40:53 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: libertyhoundusnr

That’s kind of farked up. I would rather just put them down completely.


4 posted on 10/15/2009 2:42:55 PM PDT by randomhero97 ("First you want to kill me, now you want to kiss me. Blow!" - Ash)
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To: nickcarraway

Do they taste like chicken?


5 posted on 10/15/2009 2:43:58 PM PDT by JimRed ("Hey, hey, Teddy K., hot enough down there today?" TERM LIMITS, NOW AND FOREVER!)
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: Baynative

LMAO, awesome.


7 posted on 10/15/2009 2:49:51 PM PDT by randomhero97 ("First you want to kill me, now you want to kiss me. Blow!" - Ash)
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To: nickcarraway

They are absolutely vicious at Ft Bragg CA. A serious danger actually.


8 posted on 10/15/2009 2:56:17 PM PDT by calex59
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To: calex59

Penguins don’t like them either.


9 posted on 10/15/2009 3:02:13 PM PDT by diamond6 (Is SIDS preventable? www.Stopsidsnow.com)
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To: Baynative

I could spend hours watching them. Very entertaining.


10 posted on 10/15/2009 3:04:19 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: diamond6
Penguins don't like them either.


"You got that right, soldier..."

12 posted on 10/15/2009 3:56:08 PM PDT by JRios1968 (The real first rule of Fight Club: don't invite Chuck Norris...EVER)
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To: nickcarraway
The experts at the Marine Mammal Center say they don't know what is behind the increase...

Well, see, when a Daddy sea lion and a Mommy sea lion want little baby sea lions, they, uh...

13 posted on 10/15/2009 4:04:28 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: seal; Walrus; SeaLion; nickcarraway
Any Freepers out there Sea Lions?

Let's find out.

14 posted on 10/15/2009 5:40:20 PM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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